Flying in first class was also on my bucket list + it had to be on an inaugural flight and last September, I got this fulfilled when Emirates started flying from Stockholm last September 4. It was the most unforgettable day of my life I was lucky they had promo fares. I flew business class BKK-DXB(upgraded) and the difference to first class was really obvious. Goodluck!

For more of my trip reports, pls click here

My partner just booked ARN to Per in business and SYD to ARN in First class for Feb 2014 and it was 32,000 sek, abt 4,900 USD after the 10% discount code he rcvd from his email. That's super cheap compared to other airlines

Just thought I would follow up on my experience of first vs business as I was lucky enough to have a first class flight AKL to SYD courtesy of my wonderful man!

I LOVED IT. Is it worth the extra $$$. Debatable. I think if you had unlimited funds and you were doing a long haul flight and suffer from terrible jet lag, yes. Wonderful. However, my fiance and I decided that actually we would both be just as happy in business class. Unfortunately J return to Europe next year is out of our financial reach so we'll be slumming it in Y! But we will have some very nice hotel stopovers!

Even though we were on a short flight on the A380, I did use the shower just so that I could say, I've had a shower at x no of feet! I could totally get used to the never ending glass of Dom Perignon. The service was fantastic. I was impressed by the food. I loved being picked up in the car from home and then at our destination. Fast tracked through immigration, from start to finish the whole experience was definitely what I would call "first class"!

It's funny really, because when we flew business earlier this year to Melbourne, we thought that was pretty swish, so when we flew first this time and then wandered back through Business to the bar, all of a sudden it looked quite ordinary. hahaha, it really will be a comedown for me next year wont it!

I disagree ....... I think the most important part of travel - are the seats and the flat beds. The J on the A380 is better than some of the older aircraft. The lounge area in J is phenomenal - where even the F pax come down to socialize and mingle.

The Showers, albeit unique and great are overkill ........ The mini-bar with the warm drinks unnecessary when you have the awesome EK crew to hand out just about anything you need!

I tend to think of the showers as a marketing tool, as only Emirates' has them. When I tried the shower I was slightly unnerved by having only 5 minutes' water (the allocated 30 minutes in the "spa" was fine, tho'). On my next flight I may give it a miss.

I love the shower, I've used it coming into DXB - saves me having a shower when I get in and I sleep better that night. Can't put a price on my sleep!

You cannot fault the Emirates Suites on the A380. There is a pretty good write up of the experience in the link here, although the turbulence meant no showers were used.

http://backpackerlee.wordpress.com/2013/11/08/105/

However, I am also a fan of EK's business class. I may get the chance to try it between SYD-AKL next year. They have a very good product, and it is much cheaper than the equivalent of EY or TK.